In this interview, originally published by SeedCue and written by Oana Modorcea, Michal Sikyta, Managing Partner at Soulmates Ventures, discusses the intersection of sustainability and profitability, the importance of founder mindset, and why Europe needs bold innovators now more than ever.

Building a cross-border gateway: We’re celebrating four months of our partnership with the Toronto Business Development Centre. See how our cohort of 8 startups navigated the US-Canada market entry and why TBDC’s unique institutional status makes them the perfect anchor for our North American expansion.

As AI diagnostics rapidly advance, the "black box" problem remains a critical hurdle. In this edition of Another Angle, machine learning expert Jiří Vomlel breaks down why Explainable AI (XAI) is essential for clinical trust, regulatory compliance, and unlocking truly personalised healthcare.

The opportunity here is massive. By fusing generative AI with an integrated wet lab, Antiverse is redefining the global standard for antibody design. Discover why we believe their ability to reduce development time from years to under four months marks a structural shift in the economics of drug discovery and a new chapter for precision medicine.

Navigating the territory between cutting-edge AI innovation and the rigid constraints of MDR and the AI Act requires a fundamental shift in architectural philosophy. Jan Hauser, CEO UK at Applifting, discloses in detail why embedding regulatory rigour into your MVP is the only way to transform a high-risk prototype into a scalable, global healthcare solution.

The European intersection of the AI Act, MDR/IVDR, GDPR and the Digital Omnibus today resembles a minefield. For healthtech startups and investors, however, it is not just about the threat of sanctions – it is about company value. In the first edition of our series Another Angle, we bring insights from those closest to the field. Jaroslav Menčík, Partner and Head of the Technology Team at Ambit, reveals what investors should really look for in healthtech due diligence, why a wrong MDR or IVDR classification can derail growth, and how the Digital Omnibus is changing valuation and regulatory risk assessment. As compliance turns into a barrier to entry, those who get it right gain a decisive edge. Read the full interview and see regulation from another angle.

In 2025 Soulmates Ventures reached significant milestones: a €50 million sustainable fund aligned with Article 9 SFDR, five new portfolio startups including FluoSphera, Better Medicine and Rightcharge, plus two follow-on investments. We strengthened global acceleration with a new programme in Toronto and expanded market access into North America, South Asia and the Middle East. Portfolio companies achieved notable breakthroughs—from regenerative agriculture carbon credits to CE-certified AI cancer diagnostics—while the team earned global recognition among the world’s leading sustainable investors. Discover the full story of growth, impact and future ambition in our year-in-review.